School dinners off

THE Grammar School canteen has been closed by Environmental Health. Frustrated parents called its officers in, claiming the Education Council had failed to respond to their concerns.

Parent Teacher Association president Brian Horsepool said he found a box of mice poison on the cooker when he carried out his own inspection 12 days ago.

'The PTA has been complaining about the appalling lack of cleanliness and the state of the catering equipment for more than a year,' he said.

'The cooker should have been put on the scrapheap 10 years ago.'

He claimed the school committee, on which he sat, had been aware of the problem for at least two terms. Education director Derek Neale and president Martin Ozanne are both members.

Grammar School head teacher Dennis Balls said the school had had a serious mouse infestation since Christmas.

'We have agreed that the kitchen area should be closed down and all food removed while we deal with the problem,' he said.

Pupils were given a letter to take home explaining the matter.

An Education spokesman said it had been informed by Environmental Health on Tuesday of the current problem

But it was aware that the PTA had raised concerns with Mr Balls and these were reported to the school committee.

Mr Horsepool said Environmental Health first inspected the canteen in November following complaints. But the PTA had not been made party to the resulting report, which was sent to Education and the school.

Chief environmental officer John Cook said: 'We are liaising with the staff from Education and the canteen operator to get the matter resolved.'

He added that the school had elected to close the canteen temporarily and Environmental Health had taken no formal action.

Tim Chandler, who runs the canteen as a concession, declined to comment.

Education said that under the terms of the agreement, the concessionaire had an obligation to comply with all regulations relating to the supply and sale of food. It was concerned at the current situation and was working to identify the source.

Education staff were overseeing the cleaning process yesterday.

Mr Horsepool said the situation needed rectifying.

'What we want as a parent body is corrective action, guaranteed hygiene standards and new equipment,' he said.

Pest control expert George Hale said mice were a particular problem throughout the island at this time of year.

'Summer brings the ants, wasps and fleas, but from September to April is the time for mice,' he said.